29 June 2014

Yes! You've read it correctly. Solaire Resort and Casino is set to fly the sky this year! As the Philippines’ premier integrated resort, we have come to know of Solaire's world class facilities - luxurious rooms, dining section, and casino area. And through a partnership with Air Asia, one of Asia’s leading and multi-awarded airlines in their category, this luxury destination casino resort will soar new heights. Solaire definitely raises the bar as it wraps its brightly colored livery on Air Asia’s popular Airbus A320. Can you just imagine how vibrant this orange and red livery would be up in the blue sky? This will surely make everyone lift their heads up!

Be the first one to fly with Solaire and Air Asia as their maiden flight is scheduled to embark this July. As a part of a breakthrough branding project in the Philippines, Solaire is the first-ever consumer brand in the country to fully wrap and brand a commercial airline. Curious how this collaboration was done? Here's a video of the #SkySolaire The Making:

Travel and tourism are elevated into the next level with this dynamic collaboration between Solaire and Air Asia as such represents another step forward in an on-going journey towards providing modern travel and leisure experiences for its customers. This partnership will facilitate more passenger and cargo traffic in both regional and domestic flights, and foster stronger trade, cultural and tourism ties within Asia.

“This milestone is a key undertaking between two passionate brands with entrepreneurial and dynamic mindsets. This unprecedented branding project in the Philippines may be taken as a "leadership statement," which attests to Solaire's strong growth momentum in the industry. Yes we are again raising the bar; this time we're taking it to the skies.” says Donato Almeda, Board Director of Solaire Resort and Casino.

As of the moment, Solaire’s brand colors are donned by just one airplane. But we'll definitely see more of these bright and vibrant liveries as nothing is stopping them from further rolling out this innovative wrap on additional aircrafts in the future with broader partnership arrangements. The campaign will continue until 2016 and it is envisioned that this high-impact ad in the sky will generate more hype and publicity as the partnership progresses.

Jasper Evangelista, Vice President of Brand & Marketing, Solaire Resort and Casino said, “This aircraft-branding campaign is a strategic branding initiative which would allow us to literally take our brand to greater heights. We have created amazing moments for our customers since Solaire launched last year, and now we’re aiming to further connect with our local & foreign guests and travellers by reinforcing our brand presence in the country’s airports. Sky Solaire will enable us to get immediate traction on this effort and even take it to a level all its own.”

In-line with Solaire’s “Create Your Moments" campaign, which highlights Solaire as the perfect place to create unforgettable memories, this fitting partnership with AirAsia harmoniously evokes the key thrusts of customer service, hospitality, and excitement for both their industries. This marketing initiative is also primed to open up new revenue streams for both the integrated resort and the airline carrier.

AirAsia Philippines Chairman Maan Hontiveros said, “AirAsia Philippines is a sociable and innovative brand. We also take pride on our collaborative nature. This new livery demonstrates our creative approach to partnerships and marketing opportunities especially with companies that support our vision to grow tourism. We are thrilled to carry Solaire’s brand in the sky and on the grounds at the airports here and abroad extending to as far as our destinations in Malaysia, China and Korea.”

Solaire Resort is not merely a home away from home. The Solaire experience is stamped with an unparalleled brand of service style, world-renowned Philippine hospitality, top-of-class luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options and impressive gaming facilities, which have all contributed to the way people people view resort casinos in Manila. Many have opted to extend their stay at the resort, to have simply grown to embrace the aspirational and stress-free lifestyle offered to them at Solaire. Solaire Resort and Casino clearly offers the utmost experience of comfort, elegance and luxury in the Philippines right now.

For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.solaireresort.com.

I can't wait to fly with Solaire and Air Asia! This collaboration will definitely create numerous unforgetable flying memories and experiences. :)

28 June 2014

Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is definitely back with a bigger and better production! Now on its third year, Wyeth Nutrition and ABS-CBN go beyond the studio walls and expose the kids to real talent institutions that have nurtured and developed similar talents – of dancing, singing, and acting – throughout the years.

For over 25 years, Promil Pre-School has been advocating the development of the Filipino children’s talents with the help of their parents, proper care and proper nutrition. In line with this advocacy, the i-Shine Talent Camp aims to help exceptionally talented preschoolers develop their full potential. Aside from the extensive workshops, the roles of parents and proper nutrition will also play a big part in nurturing the preschoolers’ gifts to mastery.

Last week, I was able to witness at an event held at 9501 Restaurant in ABS-CBN the improvements introduced by Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp on their latest season. The show's TV hosts Dimples Romana, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian Lim were present during the event to share their memorable experiences in the past years, as well as their excitement for what’s new for the third season.

Mentors Georcelle Dapat-Sy and Angel Locsin with host, Marie Lozano

Aside from meeting the hosts of the show, the top caliber mentors of this season were also revealed. The list includes fierce mom and the artistic director of G-Force, Georcelle Dapat-Sy; Multi-platinum artist and the country’s music icon, Zsa Zsa Padilla; and critically acclaimed and world-class television and movie actress, Angel Locsin. These mentors will guide the i-Shiners through a series of workshops, sharing their knowledge as experts in their various fields. In the duration of the camp, the chosen preschoolers will be guided and given the opportunity to strengthen their talents.

We were also given a chance to show our (hidden) singing talents through this Videoke booth!

Also new this year is the chance of the audience to vote for their favorite i-Shiner through the Wildcard voting. A shortlist of 30 finalists was revealed on the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp microsite. The audience chose their favorites through online voting – one for singing, one for dancing and one for acting. The three finalists per category with the most votes will join the nine finalists selected by Wyeth Philippines and ABS-CBN, and complete the top 12 i-Shiners.

Mentors and Hosts with representatives from ABS-CBN and Promil Pre-School

These 12 i-Shiners will be taken to different institutions that played significant roles in nurturing the gifts of some of the country's icons for a series of workshops. The Grand Finale will stage a grand performance by the i-Shiners with the help of their moms and mentors. Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is also giving away over Php 1 million worth of prizes, and a contract from ABS-CBN and Promil Pre-School to the Grand i-Shiner who will be receiving the highest score.

Previous Promil Pre-School grand i-Shiners Lukas Enrique Magallano in 2012 and Yesha Camille in 2013 have received numerous television appearances for their talents in singing and acting. Lukas was able to appear in Kapamilya shows such as ASAP, Little Champ and Muling Buksan ang Puso while Yesha is currently shooting for an upcoming series with her i-Shine mentor Piolo Pascual. These kids, having continuously shown much promise, are now on their way to become icons through the help of the i-Shine Talent Camp.

22 June 2014

Caliburger Philippines, one of the newest and hippest food spot in Manila, introduced three new products this month. These are the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, Onion Rings, and Cali Sweet Wings. Luckily, we were invited to try these out at their Century City Mall branch in Makati.

Although Caliburger just opened its doors last Febuary here in the Philippines, they have become a popular food trip destination among the youth. I guess it is the feel good vibes that one gets by just being inside a Caliburger joint. The benches and seats, the crew's get-up, and the design of the area itself, particularly the little details, remind me of the beach. Californian, indeed!

At their Century City Mall branch, they have this huge screen where they show some of the happenings during their grand opening in both the Century City Mall and Timog branches. Anyway, here's a copy of the clip where you could see their Cali Girl, Carla D.:

Food at Caliburger is very limited. It's either you want to eat at Caliburger or not. But basing on the crowd when we went there, people still flock the area proving that it their dishes are definitely something!

Of course, Caliburger believes that fresh tastes best. Their made-to-order meals are always prepared in open kitchens by experienced chefs who carefully monitor quality and adhere to strict standards for processing, cooking, and sanitation. These all add up to a difference you taste in their products.

The first one that we tried is the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger. It is a mouthwatering cheeseburger layered with 100% USDA Prime Angus Beef patty, double smoked bacon, and sweet and tangy house-made BBQ sauce. I liked this one a lot because the veggies are really fresh and I just love bacon so much. I have a sweet tooth so I appreciated the sweet BBQ sauce as well. The patty was really juicy and so good that I wanted it to be larger in size. :p

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger - P195

The Onion Rings, on the other hand, are hand-battered with a touch of thyme. I'd never eat fresh, uncooked onions my entire life, but I liked this one a lot. The onions were cut very thinly. Thus, it is more flavorful. The batter is very crispy while the onions remain soft and yummy!

Onion Rings - P50

My favorite would definitely be their new Cali Sweet Wings! These are juicy chicken wings with soy honey glaze. They're best eaten when still hot. The chicken were just as tender as I expect it to be and the soy honey glaze won't let me stop eating. It's just that good!

Cali Sweet Wings - P185 (8 pcs.), P95 (4 pcs.)

I have to commend Caliburger's staff though for being the most cheerful and the most accommodating bunch of people I have met. They were all smiles for the camera and were greeting everyone. They're just happy people sending good vibes to their customers.

Thanks Caliburger for inviting me to try out your latest dishes! I can't wait to go back and have more chicken wings and perhaps try the milkshakes. :D

21 June 2014

Blessed with a new baby on the way but worried about impending expenses? Don’t fret. MediCard Philippines, a leading health maintenance organization in the country, introduces its exclusive prenatal package that includes important pregnancy exams at an affordable price.

For as low as Php3,535 for MediCard members and 3,898 for non-members, you can benefit from a comprehensive prenatal care that includes a one-time check-up with an obstetrician-gynecologist, complete blood count (CBC) test, urinalysis, Pap smear, blood typing, Hepatitis B screening, rubella screening (IgG), glucose screening, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test, and transvaginal ultrasound. These tests are important to undergo because they can detect signs of potential health problems that may affect you and your baby. You may take them on separate dates or as advised by your doctor. You may also request for succeeding checkups with an OB-GYN for only Php350.

MediCard offers this promo to help expectant mothers like you get the best prenatal care and tests at a price you can afford. With the discounted rate, there is no reason to skip essential prenatal services.

The MediCard prenatal package promo runs until June 30, 2014 only. For inquiries, call (6) (32) 884-9999 or send an email to inquiry@medicardphils.com today. To know more about MediCard’s services and promotions, visit http://www.medicardphils.com.

19 June 2014

I have to admit that the BGC area is filled with unique and great places to eat. Thus, it is sometimes hard to decide where to eat especially when you're not familiar with the area. With that, I'd rather go to some place that my friends recommend and one of the restaurants that I've heard from my friends is the Sunshine Kitchen. They cannot stop talking about the Truffled 4 Cheese Pasta with Smoked Bacon (although they can no longer remember the entire name of the dish :p). Luckily, I was invited to a lunch event at Sunshine Kitchen to try out this dish and the rest of their dishes!

The place just looks very inviting and cozy. During day time, the area appears bright and pleasant as the sun comes in through their huge glass walls. I'm not sure though how the place looks like at night as they offer wines and cocktails.

18 June 2014

CNA, Korea’s No. 1 accessory shop has opened its 6th branch in Metro Manila, this time at Fairview Terraces, the latest shopping mall by the Ayala Malls group. I am extremely happy that they have now a branch near me (Fairview Terraces being the nearest mall to me), although they also have a branch near my school in Mendiola.

The opening of the branch in Fairview Terraces had been much anticipated by the loyal supporters of the brand. The ribbon-cutting was graced by the owners of CNA Philippines and Korea, as well as the administration executives and officers of Ayala Terraces. GMA7 talent and CNA’s newest brand ambassador, Dasuri Choi, along with her dance group, Sapphire, entertained the patrons with a special K-pop performance.

K-pop fans went crazy with all the Korean merchandise CNA carries. Have you noticed the volume of the crowd? They have to let people in by batches to accommodate them all!

Dasuri Choi and her dance group, Sapphire

CNA, which stands for “Culture, Nature, Art” is a concept store that has been in the Philippines since 2012. The store offers high-quality and affordable fancy jewelries such as earrings, necklaces and bracelets, hair ornaments, trinkets and other accessories, which possess that distinct Korean style. Furthermore, CNA has since gained a major following among the local K-pop fans for being one of the few stores in the country to carry the latest Korean pop album releases and merchandise. Anyway, here are some of the cutest items I found in their shop:

Wigs and ribbons! You'll never know when you'll need them! :)

The cutest clips, hair tie and headbands. I could just eat these candy-colored items!

Korean made accessories such as earrings, bracelets, and bangles.

K-pop CDs that sells like pancakes! CNA has one of the most competitive prices in the Philippine market and the first to sell the new releases from Korea.

If you want to check out their stylish and inexpensive items that are perfect for gifts or for everyday use, you may visit the latest CNA branch at the 2nd level of Fairview Terraces. Three more CNA shops will be opened in the metro on the third quarter of this year.

With Ms. Kring, Marketing Manager of CNA Philippines

For more info and promos, like their Facebook page: facebook.com/CNAphils, follow them on twitter: twitter.com/CNAphils or email them at CNAphils@gmail.com.

17 June 2014

Back with a new web-series, Ramon Bautista stars in Tales of the Friend Zone X (#TFTFx) to share the bittersweet love story of Arvin Jimenez (Ramon Bautista) and Teacher Ines (Nikki Veron Cruz). Set as a love story filled with pwetty sunsets and “Love is only real when baduy” moments, #TFTFZx will make any love bird tweet feelings to the max.

Also starring TV personality, Nikki Veron, and the boys of Boy’s Night Out, Sam YG, Tony Toni, and Slick Rick; TFTFZx is the ayos way of welcoming the cold rainy days of June.

But it’s not all weepy feelings for TFTFZx. To reward the fans of TFTFZx and the 2013 release of Tales from the Friend Zone series (http://blog.ayosdito.ph/index.php/tales-from-the-friend-zone-zero-tftfz-tftfzero/), AyosDito.ph is giving away fabulous prizes perfect for mending broken hearts. Starting on June 11 until June 30, you can be one of the lucky winners of Gshock watches, Gshock couple watches and GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition cameras.

To join, you just have to share why you love AyosDito.ph for buying great deals or selling your pre-loved items. It’s that easy! So if you think you’re not very lucky in love, here in AyosDito.ph, you have all the chance you want to go home a winner!

Failed in love? #AyosLangYan

Still single, don’t even want to mingle? #AyosLangYan.

www.AyosDito.ph, a leading and trusted online buying and selling website in the Philippines, knows how instinct tells you to hold on to things, especially the more sentimental ones. However, there are new stories waiting to be made only if you let go of things and accept that “Stuvvs happen, ayos lang yan.”

By letting go of pre-loved items on AyosDito.ph, you get the closure you need to move on; while also getting the chance to earn a little extra for other exciting things to try. Even more, you get the chance to win exclusive prizes too!

The Mind Museum may be known for having galleries with interactive science exhibits, but not many know that it is also a place that offers unique and fun summer learning activities that tickle the scientist in each child. From simulated crime solving activities, to a behind-the-scenes look on being the museum’s ‘Mind Movers’, to learning about the science behind soccer, The Mind Museum can keep your eyes and minds widening in wonder.

The Mind Museum’s Summer Programs

Known as the Philippines’ first world-class science museum, The Mind Museum continues to provide extraordinary learning and exploration to kids and kids-at-heart. This summer, The Mind Museum, with the help of JPMorgan Chase & Co., brought an array of activities that will make you appreciate and love learning even more:

In the Crime Scene Investigation 101 (CSI 101) program, young inquisitive minds were tasked by the museum’s Mind Movers to examine a crime scene and figure out what could have possibly happened by doing evidence gathering, fingerprinting, odontology and blood splatter analysis. Kids even presented their cases to a panel of investigators, and winning participants were given badges as their award. It was truly an exciting experience for them to try their hands at solving cases and on being crime scene investigators.

The Mind Museum also partnered with the scientists of the California Academy of Sciences and offered a Marine Science Camp to young wonderers. Held in Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Anilao Batangas, adventurers gained a deeper appreciation for marine biodiversity through interactive activities including a “wet” show & tell of critters & corals, outdoor survival training with tents, sleeping bags and coolers facilitated by Coleman, and stargazing at night with the museum’s resident astronomer. Highlight was the snorkeling activity in the resort’s well-preserved house reef, and identifying the different forms of marine life that they learned about from the scientists of the Academy.

Meanwhile, other budding science prodigies were given the chance to be like the museum’s resident scientists or ‘Mind Movers’. Through the Junior Mind Mover (JMM) program, participants learned about the story of the museum and its galleries, and even performed experiments in front of museum guests. Through the program, they got to explore different fields of sciences in interactive and creative ways.

For kids who both love sports and science, the Soccer Science Program was the perfect activity to enjoy. Held at The Mind Museum and BGC Turf, participants learned the physics behind this sport including the science of curve balls, soccer statistics and soccer anatomy to prevent injuries. This program, made possible with the help of the Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation, Uratex and Mitre, had participants from a select group of sponsored Taguig public school kids, and soccer enthusiasts from all over Metro Manila.

Unending Wonderment from The Mind Museum

Even if summer is over, they can still expect a lot more mind-blowing educational programs. Watch out for exciting science parties or ‘MindBurst’ events such as the Experiment Circus - travel into the past towards the future of Physics; or take part in the Halloween Special: Myth-busting and Ghost-busting and discover what is this spookiness behind “ghost-busting” activities. For more details about the museum and continuous flow of events, visit The Mind Museum website at www.themindmuseum.org.

15 June 2014

Yesterday, I was able to witness the grand finals of the 4th Gyudon Eating Contest of Yoshinoya Philippines at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City. If Coney Island in New York, USA has the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, then the Philippines definitely has Yoshinoya.

During the qualifying rounds, several customers dared to consume the most number of gyudon in 5 minutes. 46 participants who won in the qualifying rounds moved on to the grand finals. During the final round held yesterday, these contestants competed by eating the most number of bowls in 15 minutes.

400+ of the hottest items from Romwe such as iPhone Case, accessories ,swimsuits, shorts, glasses and more are on sale for just $9.99 each! This sale will last until the 16th of the month. Free shipping of course for all items and the product will be shipped within 24 hours. Don't miss out on this one!

11 June 2014

These days, everyone is obsessed with looking youthful. Not only does it help us feel young and alive inside, but it actually helps us advance in our personal dealings and in life, in general. However, it has become hard to maintain a youthful skin nowadays with so much pollution and stress. These factors are known as causes of skin problems such as acne, discoloration, and signs of aging including fine lines and volume loss which eventually leads to sagging.

There will always be skin care products in the market that could help target these problems. However, it takes forever for these products to work. Paying a visit to a dermatologist could be tricky because some procedures lead to odd-looking and unnatural results. We cannot say if some are even safe at all! Of course, we don't want that to happen to us as it is always best to rediscover our beauty the natural way.

08 June 2014

It has been a lifelong dream for me to attend a personality development class with John Robert Powers. In case you haven't heard of JRP (which is very unlikely), it is a network of schools and centers worldwide specializing in the teaching of personal development, personality enhancement and imaging, as well as communications, modeling and acting. When I told my closest friends that I would be attending an Image and Skills Enhancement Workshop at JRP, they told me that I don't need it anymore. However, I believe that we all still have some aspect in ourselves that needs improvement and polishing.

What I attended was a 2-day Image and Skills Enhancement Workshop - a preview of JRP's personality development program. Unfortunately, I was able to attend only the 2nd day of the workshop. From what my classmates told me, the first day consisted of basic self-image enhancement workshop such as makeup, wardrobe, poise, etc. During the second day of the workshop, we had Social and Business Etiquette and Voice Communication classes.

05 June 2014

My dad has been pushing me to try out archery since I was in elementary school. But honestly, I didn't find it interesting then so I tried gymnastics instead. Then came, Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games, Princess Merida of Brave, and the list goes on. Archery suddenly became a more popular sport among the youth and I was finally convinced to try it out. Luckily, I was invited by Kodanda Archery Range for an hour of fun!

Kodanda Archery Range is a seven-lane, fully air-conditioned indoor archery range located on the upper basement of Makati Cinema Square along Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong Tamo) in Makati City. The name Kodanda is Sanskrit for “he who has a bow.”

Before starting out, our coaches at Kodanda made sure that we are fully geared for the sport. All they asked for us to wear are rubber shoes as they provided the rest of the gear. I hope the Palladium I was wearing counts as one. The other gears that were needed to be put on are the following:

Armguard - protection for the arm against the string’s backlash.

Fingertab - protection for the fingers’ repeated pulling of string.

Chestguard - worn over the torso especially for girls to prevent the string from snaring clothes

Quiver - arrow holder

Recurve Bow – normal bow used in our range (the same one used in the Olympics)